Ministry centers in Eastern Kentucky and throughout Appalachia need our help in providing Christmas toys, food, and clothing.  I have recently learned about two special efforts.

Backpacks for Appalachia is a special effort to provide backpacks for children in need. Georgia Baptists have set a goal of providing 20,000 backpacks this year, but in a recent visit with Bill Barker, Director of Appalachian Regional Ministry (ARM), I learned that he has received requests for 30,000 from ministry centers throughout Appalachia. (Many of the centers are in Eastern Kentucky.)  Reaching this monumental goal will allow ARM ministries to share a gift of love along with the Gospel message, with children living in poverty throughout Appalachia this Christmas. Here are the guidelines for preparing backpacks:

• Use one NEW, zippered backpack of any color for each child.
• Determine whether your backpack will be for a girl or boy.
• Select an age category: 2-4; 5-9; 10-14 years of age
• Use a Christmas label to clearly indicate a boy or girl and the age category selected.
• Fill the backpack with a variety of gifts. (*See below)
• Securely tape the label to the outside of the backpack.
• Pray specifically for the child that will receive your backpack.

*Christmas in Appalachia Gift Suggestions:
 (All gifts are to be NEW items. No used items please)
TOYS: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), game toys, Slinky®, etc.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
HYGIENE ITEMS: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (boxed and in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.


OTHER: hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries), age-appropriate religious books, Bible, and pop-top cans of food.

Eastern Kentucky SONrise is preparing gifts for three Eastern Kentucky ministries. Here is a note from Linda Otterback about the needs.

Dear Friend of Eastern Kentucky SONrise:
If you or your church/group could help this year with our annual Christmas give away in Eastern Kentucky, we (they) would be most grateful.  I have committed to providing 500 this year to Appalachia Reach Out and Haven of Rest in Inez, and the Freeda Harris Center in Elkhorn City.

Simpsonville Baptist Church will be receiving gifts starting November 11 and wrapping them November 16-17.  The gifts will be delivered after Thanksgiving for the ministry sites to give away at their Christmas activities.   We appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity in helping.  So many people are struggling due to coal mine shut downs and the need is great.

Love Through HIM,
Linda Otterback , MSC Eastern KY SONrise, KBC, NAMB